A post-apocalyptic horror-thriller about a tattoo-inflicting spore by Stephen King’s son; Anne Tyler’s spin on Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew,” (set in Baltimore, of course); and a British naturalist’s attempts to live like a badger (and eat worms) are among the tantalizing books recommended for summer reading by Baltimore County librarian and Roughly Speaking contributor Paula Gallagher.
You can hear what Gallagher has to say about each of these titles during the weekend episode of the Roughly Speaking podcast. Here is Gallagher’s list, by genre:
Thriller of the Summer: “Before the Fall,” by Noah Hawley.
Post-Apocalyptic Horror-Thriller: “The Fireman,” by Joe Hill.
Alternative History-Thriller: “Underground Airlines,” by Ben H. Winters.
Science Fiction: “Barren Cove,” by Ariel S. Winter.
Historical Fiction: “Homegoing,” by Yaa Gyasi.
Literary Fiction: “LaRose,” by Louise Erdrich.
Retellings: “Eligible,” by Curtis Sittenfeld; “Vinegar Girl,” by Anne Tyler; “Wilde Lake,” Laura Lippman.
Foodie: “32 Yolks: From My Mother's Table to Working the Line,” by Eric Ripert.
War: “Consequence: a Memoir,” by Eric Fair; “Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War,” by Mary Roach.
Nature: "Being a Beast: Adventures across the Species Divide," by Charles Foster.